It comes as the 2024 Strictly pro cast have returned to rehearsals

A STRICTLY Come Dancing pro has been seen slapping his partner’s bum three times during recently resurfaced footage.

Its reappearance – after first being aired on spin-off show It Takes Two – comes as the BBC series is plunged into turmoil.

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A Strictly Come Dancing professional has been exposed for slapping his dance partner’s bum three timesCredit: BBC

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Brendan Cole was seen slapping Fiona Phillips’ in the shock video clip which has now re-surfacedCredit: BBC

The duo lasted four weeks on the BBC series back in 2005Credit: BBC

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The former GMTV host was heard telling him to stopCredit: BBC
Today the Strictly Come Dancing cast were all smiles as they arrived for rehearsals for the 2024 series – yet their grins came just moments after former show pro Janette Manrara, 40 – broke her silence on claims by her former celebrity partner Will Bayley.

She is alleged to have branded one of the sports ace’s jumps as “rubbish” before asking him to repeat the feat – sparking the Paralympian to suffer an injury which required surgery.

Now Aussie Brendan Cole, 48 – who starred in 15 Strictly series – has been seen tapping the derriere of former TV presenter Fiona Phillips, 63, in disturbing scenes.

The incident happened in rehearsals – with the worrying footage then broadcast for the nation to see in 2005.

He also appears to act aggressively towards her during the clip and branded her “pathetic” before seemingly laughing off his attitude.

This prompted the former GMTV presenter to say: “Stop shouting at me.”

She followed up with referring to the routine and said: “I don’t feel like doing it now you’ve said that.”

Previous behind the scenes footage of the pair also saw Fiona burst into tears as Brendan let rip.

The pair took part in the third series of the show, before exiting on week four.

Clearly irritated at their continual low scores, the clip captured Brendan furious at dress rehearsals as he swears and launches into a foul mouthed rant and tells cameras to “stop f*****g filming me.”

He then asked them to “get the cameras out of my face” and raged “don’t you know when to f**k off.”

Later on, Fiona was seen breaking down into tears as she rehearsed with Brendan.

She told the camera in a solo confessional that the professional was “looking at me like something he had stepped in.”

The Sun has gone to Brendan’s reps for comment.

In the video clip he is seen raging at his co-star Georgina Bouzova as they argue in rehearsals back in 2006.

Meanwhile, his former Strictly co-star wife Ola hasn’t escaped unscathed either.

She has been accused of “bullying” and being “cold” towards former celebrity partner Steve Backshall.

Steve, 51, reportedly lodged a complaint with the BBC in 2014 about his show partner, 41, claiming he found the practice sessions gruelling.

He and Ola were then assigned a chaperone after he refused to be alone with the Polish dancer, MailOnline has reported.

The Sun has contacted Ola’s representatives for comment.

Meanwhile, the Strictly crisis deepens.

Italian professional Giovanni Pernice, 33, quit the BBC show earlier this year.

He is currently under investigation by the BBC over misconduct after complaints were filed by several of his former celebrity dance partners.

The same investigation also saw his fellow Italian professional Graziano Di Prima axed after allegations of “physical incidents” towards show partner Zara McDermott, 27.

Dancer-turned-judge Anton Du Beke has also been drawn into the “misconduct probe.”

It is centred on a historic row with former celebrity partner Laila Rouass, 53, and what has been dubbed his “1970s behaviour.”

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Brendan was heard telling Fiona she was ‘pathetic’Credit: BBC

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The scenes aired on Strictly spin-off show It Takes TwoCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

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Fiona was also seen in tears in a separate clip with BrendanCredit: BBC